Fishing enthusiasts cast a line for charity earlier this year.  

This year’s Shimano Children’s Charity Fishing Competition took place at Kiama Harbour on January 7. 

Kiama Game Fishing Club’s 16th annual competition raised $2323 from 85 entries in three divisions.

The total included funds collected from a charity raffle and $500 from Minnamurra Lions Club’s barbecue on the day. 

The funds were donated to Peterborough School at Warilla. 

Peterborough School provides individualised programs for students aged four to 18 years old with moderate to severe intellectual, physical and multiple disabilities including autism.

The school has been a beneficiary of funds raised from the competition for several years. 

Previous donations from the club to the school have been used to purchase items such as a defibrillator and iPads. 

This year’s funds will assist Peterborough in purchasing iPads and other items to support the students’ education.

The funds were presented to the school on Wednesday. 

School equipment was broken “beyond repair” and paint was thrown around a classroom at Peterborough, after a recent break-in caused about $10,000 worth of damage. 

Peterborough School’s president of Parents and Friends David Kirkwood said the donation would go “a long way” towards helping replace the gear that was damaged.

Mr Kirkwood’s daughter Laura, who has severe autism is in year 12 at the school. 

“The community rally around us, it’s amazing,” he said of the support the school received.

“Last week after the break-in, the amount of support we got was just overwhelming.

“I think some of the kids, they would realise and appreciate what the community does to help them.”

Kiama Game Fishing Club president Mark Way said the school would continue to be the beneficiary of the event’s proceeds. 

“Our first year at Peterborough (donating funds), we could see the obvious need there,” he said.

“The teachers here are fantastic, and they’re really doing everything they possibly can.

“So it was a great initiative from our point of view to take on Peterborough as a school to donate money to.”

Mr Way said the competition was based on encouraging children to participate in a healthy outdoor activity, as well as teaching them the concept of “catch ‘n’ release”. 

“In doing so, we also get a great vibe from donating funds to such a deserving children’s charity, who cater for children throughout our community,” he said.